NSCDC Mining Marshals Shut Down Unlawful Quarry In Kuje, Arrest 13 Suspects

The Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), by its Mining Marshals unit, has shut down an unlawful quarrying website working inside the Kuje Space Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The operation led to the arrest of 13 individuals suspected of being concerned within the illegal exercise. The suspects have been charged in courtroom and are presently awaiting formal arraignment as investigations proceed.

In line with a press release launched on Thursday by the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah John Onoja, the arrested people have been discovered to be working for an organization that had allegedly encroached on and exploited a quarry lease belonging to a different licensed operator. The unlawful operation is claimed to have persevered for over seven months with out authorized documentation.

Onoja mentioned, “This operation underscores our dedication to zero tolerance for illegality within the Nigerian mining sector. We won’t enable any particular person or firm to take the regulation into their very own palms or deprive reputable operators of their lawful rights.”

The shutdown is a part of a wider nationwide crackdown on unlawful mining actions geared toward sanitising the sector and defending crucial nationwide property.

The Mining Marshals, a specialised enforcement arm of the NSCDC, was just lately established to deal with the rising menace of unlawful mining throughout Nigeria.

The unit is accountable for guaranteeing compliance with mining rules and curbing practices that result in environmental degradation, income loss, and group unrest.

The commander attributed the unit’s success to the strategic management of the NSCDC Commandant Normal, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, and famous that his steering continues to form the Corps’ operations in safeguarding nationwide pursuits.

The unlawful website in Kuje was reportedly working with out correct licensing, security measures, or environmental safeguards—elements which officers say posed a big risk to public security and ecological steadiness.

Talking additional, ACC Onoja issued a stern warning to all operators within the sector to conform totally with current mining and environmental rules.

“Let this function a warning to all unlawful operators. The period of impunity within the mining sector is over. We are going to proceed to determine, examine, and prosecute all violators, irrespective of how distant or discreet their operations could also be,” he acknowledged.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its resolve to revive order, transparency, and accountability to Nigeria’s mining panorama. That is in keeping with the federal authorities’s broader agenda to diversify the financial system and strengthen inner safety by accountable useful resource administration.

Onoja acknowledged that the arrested suspects stay in custody and are anticipated to seem in courtroom within the coming days.